Feds: Pipeline in blast was ranked high-risk

Posted: Monday, September 13, 2010

By Associated Press

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Federal and state investigators say the section of natural gas pipeline that ruptured and exploded in a deadly fireball near San Francisco had been categorized as high-risk because it ran through a highly populated area.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press showed that Pacific Gas & Electric submitted paperwork to regulators that said a section of the same gas line - about 2 miles from the blast - was within "the top 100 highest risk line sections" in the utility's service territory.

A PG&E spokesman confirmed Sunday that the section of pipe mentioned in the documents was on the same line as the segment that ruptured and located several miles north of the explosion.